'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
WWE could return to its pre-pandemic schedule later this year, while also allowing fans to return to arenas in the near future. The pro wrestling promotion was successful in hosting WrestleMania 37 in front of some fans and future big pay-per-views like Survivor Series could see the capacity increase.
WWE could bring back some of their big guns like Brock Lesnar and Becky Lynch when fans make their return later in the year. But there may be some Superstars that won't feature in WWE in 2021 due to injury, personal reasons or other commitments.
Let's take a look at 5 WWE Superstars who may not wrestle in 2021:
#5 Lacey Evans - Will not wrestle in WWE in 2021
WWE RAW Superstar Lacey Evans will surely not feature in a WWE ring in 2021 as she is currently pregnant. Evans announced in February this year that she is expecting her second child and will be stepping away from the ring.
She made the announcement on an episode of RAW which left many fans wondering if it was a work or if she was legitimately pregnant. But she later confirmed that it was real:
"I'm having a baby, ya'll. I didn't expect it to be right now, as of a week ago. Women in sports entertainment, women in general, you never know. I don't have an office job where I can get a big belly and type away at a computer desk. That's not what God put in my life. Unfortunately, I gotta take it easy."
Evans was in a feud with Charlotte Flair on RAW when she announced her pregnancy. She was in a storyline where Ric Flair was her mentor, of sorts. Charlotte Flair recently revealed she wasn't keen on being in a storyline with her father.
#4 MVP - May not wrestle in WWE in 2021
MVP has been a breath of fresh air on WWE RAW as the on-screen manager of WWE Champion Bobby Lashley. The veteran Superstar has been exceptional on the microphone and has made Lashley look like an even stronger champion than he already is.
But MVP hasn't been able to step into the ring and wrestle a match in months as he suffered a knee injury earlier this year.
The two-time United States Champion injured himself during a tag team match between The Hurt Business and Lucha House Party on RAW. He injured his knee, which has kept him out of action since February.
While speaking to WWE Espanol, MVP stated that he has been trying to avoid surgery and will be going in for a procedure to repair his knee:
"As many of you know, my knee has been bothering me for a while now. While it is better, it hasn’t fully healed yet. We’ve been trying to avoid surgery, so we’re gonna try one more procedure. If that doesn’t work either, I might have to get some minor arthroscopic surgery for the knee but, not yet.” (H/T WrestlingInc)
If MVP has to be operated upon, he may not be able to get in the ring this year. He will, however, most likely remain alongside Bobby Lashley as his mouthpiece.
#3 The Miz - May not wrestle in WWE in 2021
The Miz has had an eventful year in WWE so far, from winning the WWE Championship to being part of a highly-acclaimed WrestleMania match to being "devoured" by zombies on live television.
The two-time WWE Champion reportedly suffered an injury in the match that featured zombies at WrestleMania Backlash, which could keep him out of action for a while.
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter has revealed that The Miz has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury, a serious injury that could keep him out for as long as nine months:
"He tore his anterior cruciate ligament, but we don't know what the severity of the tear is. Last time I heard something it was about a partial tear so it might not be that serious. If it's a complete tear, you know, it needs an operation and probably, 7, 8 or 9 months out. At 40, that's not the best thing in the world. He'll come out of this, I'm sure, but it's going to take a long time, in which he'll stay out." (H/T Wrestling-World)
Those backstage were reportedly surprised that The Miz could soldier on despite getting injured in the match against Damian Priest at WrestleMania Backlash.
#2 Triple H - May not wrestle in WWE in 2021
For the first time in years, Triple H did not wrestle a single WWE match in a calendar year in 2020. A key fixture since the '90s, The Game has been a bit-part player over the last few years, wrestling only on big pay-per-views like WrestleMania and shows in Saudi Arabia.
In a recent appearance on the Cheap Heat podcast, Triple H discussed a possible retirement match. The WWE NXT supremo did not express a great desire to get back in the ring and wrestle the same old faces.
He stated that he would like to have one final "world tour" of sorts, wrestling in iconic venues across the world, against young talent:
"For me, I would like to do, if I was able to do it..... to be able to go to different markets and be able to wrestle there and do like a ‘One World Tour’ where you go to the big venues and try not to get injured. But one big tour and go to Japan and go to The O2 in London and just all these different arenas. Go to the Garden one more time, go to Chicago one more time, go to L.A. one more time. Do these big things, Mexico City." (H/T Post Wrestling)
Triple H said returning to the WWE ring was not one of his priorities and that a retirement match seemed to "bother" everyone apart from him. WWE may not tour outside of the United States anytime soon, which rules out a possible "world tour" to cap off Triple H's iconic WWE career.
His last match in WWE was against Randy Orton in January 2021.
#1 John Cena - May not wrestle in WWE in 2021
WWE and John Cena fans have been eagerly looking forward to seeing the 16-time world champion once again in a WWE ring. Cena hasn't wrestled a single match this year. He stepped into the ring just once last year, in a Firefly Funhouse match against Bray Wyatt.
The WWE legend, in a recent interview with Den of Geek, indicated his desire to return to the company, but didn't reveal when. Instead, he's ready to wait for the right storyline to return to WWE:
"I really, really want to get back to WWE. Heck, I'm with everybody I think around the world saying I just want the world to get back to normal, but these are interesting times, and I have a lot of interesting opportunities at my feet, and I really do appreciate the WWE universe understanding that after so many years. I do look forward to returning. It won't be about topping a Firefly Funhouse match."
Cena wants to perform in front of a live audience. Since there is no indication of when fans will return, he may not wrestle in WWE this year. He is presently involved in multiple projects in Hollywood as well, along with hosting the TV show Wipeout, which may not afford him the time to be on WWE television.
